Committee urges the Government to gain consensus on adding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to terrorist list

The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes that the Riksdag call on the Government to gain EU consensus on listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs has in a previous matter stated that the situation concerning human rights in Iran is very serious. At the time, the Committee noted that the scope for civil society in Iran is limited and the freedoms of assembly and association are being violated. This followed after information came to light in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ report Iran - Human rights, democracy and the rule of law 2019.

The Committee highlighted at the time the importance of Iran fully respecting and living up to human rights and that the Government should continue to clearly convey these messages in the dialogue with official representatives of Iran.

Protests in Iran

Since September 2022, protests have been ongoing in several parts in Iran against the Iranian regime, which has in turn responded by executing demonstrators. The Committee on Foreign Affairs condemns the violence that has been committed against the peaceful protests. It also condemns the use of the death penalty and demands that it be abolished. 

Adding IRGC to the terrorist list

EU sanctions against IRGC were imposed in 2010 and 2011 in connection with Iran’s spreading of weapons of mass destruction and serious human rights violations. Since the protests broke out, sanctions have become stricter.

In March, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held deliberations with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström (Moderate Party) on IRGC. The Minister for Foreign Affairs stated then that the Government’s position is to continue to take the hardest line possible on the Iranian regime’s repression within the framework of EU consensus. A majority of the Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed a dissenting position from that of the Government on adding IRGC to the terrorist list. The Committee thus proposes that the Riksdag call upon the Government to work on Sweden gaining consensus within the EU on the matter of adding IRGC to the terrorist list.  

Planned date of debate and decision

The planned date of debate and decision is Thursday 4 May 2023. The debate and decision will be broadcast on the Riksdag webcast service and can be viewed live or on-demand.

Webcasts

Documents

The Committee on Foreign Affairs’ report 2022/23:UU15 Human rights
(Published on 28 April - in Swedish)

Members of the Riksdag

Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Contact person for the media

Cornelia Leander, Secretary to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, telephone +46 8 786 41 58, email cornelia.leander@riksdagen.se